PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River will participate in the HURRICANE EXERCISE/CITADEL GALE (HURREX/CG) 2025 from April 21 to May 2, preparing for the upcoming hurricane season. The annual exercise, led by Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Commander, Navy Installations Command, involves all Navy installations along the eastern seaboard and Gulf Coast to enhance destructive weather preparedness and recovery plans. With a potentially active 2025 hurricane season looming, the drill aims to strengthen coordination with local and state authorities, ensuring the base’s readiness to protect lives and assets.
“HURREX/CG allows us as an installation to train to our destructive weather preparedness and response plans at the base and regional level, as well as incorporating the plans of our mission partners,” said Dawn Ivancik, NAS Patuxent River Emergency Management Officer. As the only naval air station in Naval District Washington, Pax River’s unique test and evaluation mission makes the exercise critical. “The work we do in the exercise can save lives and millions of taxpayer dollars,” Ivancik added. The drill tests shore and afloat commands’ response strategies, fostering partnerships with agencies like the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, which coordinates state-level hurricane preparedness.
Ivancik urged personnel to update their AtHoc information for emergency alerts and to prepare personal hurricane plans, noting, “The time to figure out an emergency plan is before the storm is bearing down on you. Doing so can literally save your life.”
The exercise may cause temporary disruptions, such as increased traffic or delays at base entrances, though measures are in place to minimize impacts on St. Mary’s County communities.
HURREX/CG 2025 aligns with national efforts to bolster resilience, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an above-average hurricane season with 15-21 named storms. Pax River’s role in testing naval aviation systems, including the F-35 Lightning II, underscores the need to safeguard its $3 billion infrastructure, per the Navy’s economic impact reports.
Southern Maryland residents are encouraged to prepare for the June 1 to November 30 hurricane season by assembling emergency kits, securing properties, and reviewing evacuation routes, as advised by Ready.gov. The exercise reinforces Pax River’s commitment to community safety and operational continuity, ensuring the base remains a vital hub for naval innovation and regional disaster response.
